The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-04
CHAPTER VIII.

The door beyond opens slowly, and a
figure that looms large and terrible in
the light of the dim lamp it carries ap-
pears upon the threshold.
Millicent, benumbed fascinated, star
ing with wide eyes, secs man dressed in
the common coarse fustian suit of an ar
tisan. The face is hidden; over it a mask
OF black satin is drawn carefully. This
gives last touch of terror to presence
already big with fearful mystery in the
eyes of the poor girl gazing at it, in a
spellbound anguish, from over the frilled
and dainty linen sheeting.
1t Is an impossible thing, in spite of all
wise writers to the contrary, to account
for human feeling-to arrange for what
1t will cause the owner of it to do or say
on certain occasions and under certain
circumstances.
Millicent, moment ago more dead
than alive, when her fear was hidden
from her, now that it appears before her
IN flesh and blood and an abominably
bad suit of clothes, feels her soul rise
within her, her courage grow apace, and
lifting her eyes-though still in very
agony of doubt and horror-she stares at
the intruder with some small semblance
of defiance.
The intruder, however, being no doubt
man OF base mind, to whom lofty senti-
ments are unknown, returns her would be
naughty glance through his mask with
an air calm as summer eve.
"Get up" he says-neither more nor
less, but just this concisely.
1t is demand that Miss Grey in her
newborn fit of courage sees fit to scorn.
II shall notp she says from her strong
hold behind the bedclothes.
However ANONYMOUSLY she behaves
afterward, it must now be said of her
that she is filled with high courage.
won't your" says the man in fust-
ian. His tone is remarkably high and
squeaky; not--as Miss Grey remarks, even
at this awful moment-like the voice of
any human thing she has ever heard.
II give you just three minutes to get
into your clothes: no more. Look sharp.
and never mind your hair. That is a
woman's first thought, isn't itp But it
must go for once"
lie laughs in so suppressed fashion
that she hardly knows what the laughter
Is ike; but that II is wild and reckless,
and decidedly mirthful, is apparent to
her, 1t did not declare itself to her then,
but afterward it occurred to her that his
whole air was hardly in accord with the
fustian.
II shall not STIR" she says valorously.
Then l regret to say that must assist
you, returns he, advancing toward her
slowly.
This settles 1t, OF course, Her high born
courage fades, evaporates. Her spirit
dies within her. With both hands she
clings to the bedclothes.
mo, nor she gasps. ~ will get up
only-only'-
"Gof That, of course" says the man
as agreeable as he can in his saueaky
tones. 81 shall go to the next room, for
precisely five minutes by my-no, by
the way-your watch. Don't, let me ad-
wise you, let it be longer"
lie strides toward the door by which
he has entered, and then suddenly stops
short. So does her heart. Once again
she had dwelled upon the hope of what
a ringing of the bell might bring forth;
put as II the mysterious being had read
her lnmost soul, he now turns to her.
by the bye, he says, ''to ring your
bell may suggest itself to you. You
might ring thousand bells in this house,
l verify believe, without result; but still
decline to take the chance. After all,
l think shall stay here in this remote
gown"
"Oh, nop'
The words break from Millicent des-
perately.
nor You would prefer notS Butt
~ swear to you / will not ring the
bell, declares she wildly. 'I don't know
why you wish me to rise; but yet | give
you my word l will not touch the bell
II you will only go into that next room
and give me the five minutes you have
promised
"A woman's oath is not worth a half.
penny, TO say nothing of her word" saws
the stranger pleasantly. "But still.
VIII grant your request with Just this last
word. If you play me false, if you seek
10 summon aid in any way, | shall''-
drawing revolver from his pocket and
handling 1t tenderly-"blow your brains
out"
The words fall from him in wn,sper
mildly, indeed, that no
suspicion OF violence should rest with
them' fet Millicent, as the door closes
pehlha nm, shudders vehemently, and
her teeth chatter as though she mas bsen
stricken with sudden chill.
With trembling haste she springs from
her bed, hurries on her clothes, and bay-
ing covered herself finally with a soft
warm dressing gown, stands shiyerino
with expectation upon the carpet She
must have got through her task with far
greater speed than she had imagined-in
three minutes, instead Of the allotted
nye, as a good while elapses FROM the
time she had finished her hurried dress.
Ing TO the dreaded moment when again
her foe appears before her.
You are paragon, he says. "Per-
init me TO congratulate you. ! said five
minutes-l gave YOU seven, II appears